The reason he doesn't GET IT is because he has never had to give up slots before. The legacy airlines have built most of the terminals (or at least renovated them), paid for the slots, and have created strongholds at some of the busiest airports in the US. Doug doesn't seem to understand, or care as you say, that allowing in better funded competition (like SW in PHL) will lead to your demise. Those airports like LGA and DCA are right now our best profit centers, primarily because we have most of the slots and gates. This is obvious to everyone except Parker. That is why a merger with NWA instead of US would be better for DL, since there would be no assets sold at any of those airports, since NW and DL do not compete directly to any cities from them. The best example is SWA in PHL. They came in, started to grow, and US is feeling it big time. The same will happen if they get into LGA or DCA.
Bye Bye--General Lee